Repsol Universe: Kazuhiko Yamano, Repsol Honda Team Manager
 “I
DEDICATE ALL MY DREAMS, EFFORT AND WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL OF
HELPING OUR RIDERS WIN”
Kazuhiko Yamano is a man who is faithful to a brand. He started
in Honda when he was just 19 years old, and 25 years later
has come to be the Repsol Honda Team Manager. Year after year,
Yamano has struggled to reach his goals and grow professionally,
becoming the second Team Manager of the Repsol Team who is
not an engineer –first one was Kurosawa at the beginning
of the ‘90s-.
Quite a few years ago, Kazuhiko Yamano was Doohan's mechanic
in the World Championship, a member of the development team
in the days of Okada and Gibernau, and Team Manager in a number
of other Honda projects aside from the Motorcycling World
Championship. And in the current 2008 season, Yamano is faced
with an enormous challenge: directing one of the most important
teams in the World Championship, and the chance to add a further
victory in the top category to his already impressive track
record.
1983: Starts in Honda
1984 - 1988: Works as a mechanic in HRC
1991 – 1992: Mechanic in the 500cc World Championship
(with M. Doohan)
1993 – 1995: Chief Mechanic with Tohru Ukawa
1996: NSR500V development team with T. Okada y S. Gibernau
1999 – 2001: Chief Staff at World Championship
2002 – 2006: HRC Factory Team Manager at the Suzuka
8 Hours
2007: HRC Team Manager at the All Japan Road Race. Project
Leader of the Suzuka 8 Hours
2008: Repsol Honda Team Manager
What is the job like, the responsibilities and the
decisions the Repsol Team Manager has to make?
“The bikes are an important tool, but even more important
than that is the rider using the tool. What we want is that
he can use that tool feeling as comfortable as possible. I
think motorcycling is a sport that's centered on the person
and we want the protagonists to be able to practice in the
best conditions possible. We don't want them to get demotivated.
That's my job, providing the riders with whatever they need.
And not only the riders, but also those surrounding them,
that is, the mechanics, engineers, and the Chief Mechanics.
To get all members of the team highly motivated, which results
in greater stimulation for the rider. We try to create a good
atmosphere to work in.”
You have gone on from being Doohan's mechanic to
being Ukawa's Chief Mechanic, a member of Okada's and Gibernau's
development team, and Team Manager. Now you are in charge
of one of the most powerful teams in the MotoGP World Championship.
How do you face these changes in responsibility?
“My dream was to one day become team manager in the
top category with HRC. Many people would like to get that
job. But it was not only my dream. I've gradually climbed
many steps since I started out as a mechanic and finally became
Team Manager. I've taken it step by step, and now I'm very
happy with my post as Team Manager of the Repsol Honda Team,
though I don't think it's my definitive goal. I don't have
any goals, I just want to improve. In the past, all the Team
Managers were engineers, but I come from a mechanic's background.
I want to show all the young mechanics, and the rest, that
a mechanic can make it to Team Manager if they are ambitious
and work hard enough.”
You have worked in different areas of the team, and
I suppose that gives you a much broader view of the team as
a whole. Does that make your job easier?
“Thanks to my experience as a mechanic, I know how the
mechanics feel, even the riders, because the relationship
is very close. Even more so when you're the Chief Mechanic.
Therefore, now I can understand all points of view within
a team; what they are feeling, how they face problems, how
to have a good relationship with the riders...”
You have worked with a number of different riders.
Who impressed you the most?
“I think that, to date, Mick Doohan impressed me the
most, because after the serious accident he had in 1992, and
the complicated injury, he recovered and won the championship
on five occasions. His motivation was incredible, and he showed
me that the important thing is to be highly motivated in order
to win the World Championship. His fighting spirit also impressed
me a lot.”
In Qatar, Dani Pedrosa said: “now I've seen
the real legend of being in HRC”. There were difficult
months during the pre-season, but at that moment Honda made
an enormous effort and the riders got what they had asked
for. Now they have a competitive bike and are fighting for
the championship, after a great start to the season. Some
people say that the important figure behind all this, is you.
What do you think, how do you feel about that?
“It's not only me who did all the hard work. As Team
Manager, I did what was expected of me. There are many people
within the HRC and we have to let everyone who is part of
this company know what the actual situation of the team is,
the complaints made by the riders, etc. Not just an approximate
description, but a clear idea of what is needed. I just did
my job, which happens to be that of Team Manager, but at the
time everyone did what was expected of them.”
Now let's talk about the Honda RC212V 2008. Last
year, the RC212V had more problems than expected and the bike
continued developing. What do you think of the bike at the
current stage of development, and what potential do you think
it has?
“Last year the rules changed and displacement was limited
to 800cc. We'd made a new bike, and we didn't want to start
all over again this year. So we made use of the work done
until then to develop the bike, without any major changes.
When I'm asked “can the championship be won in this
situation'”, I think it's a tricky question to answer.
We have to try out new things, and that takes time; and though
we're aware that the riders are expecting these developments,
we're still carrying out tests.”
What is your opinion on Repsol Honda Team riders
Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden?
“Both riders are very strong mentally and are very talented,
though with different characters, which we try to make the
most of in both cases. I've learnt a lot from Dani, as he
knows who to seize the chance in any particular situation.
He's a very intelligent rider. Nicky is very aggressive, and
thanks to his team's motivation and his own passion for the
team, he also does some very valuable work.”
You were there in the 500cc category, then the MotoGP
stage, and now 800cc. How do you see the World Motorcycling
Championship right now?
“I understand well the change made to four-stroke engines,
because four-stroke engines are more environment-friendly.
And the subsequent change to 800cc is also easy to explain,
as it was done to improve safety for the riders.”
What is your opinion on traction control?
“I think what's most important is the riders' safety,
so if traction control was introduced to improve that aspect,
I understand why it was done.”
Last year, Bridgestone was visibly one step ahead
of Michelin, and some teams changed their supplier. Honda
won the last few championships with the French brand, and
decided to stay with them. Is the team satisfied right now?
“I'm very happy. The overall performance of Michelin
is very good. I don't know for sure what happened last year,
as I was not Team Manager, but this year we've often met to
discuss opinions and right now we're doing a good job together.”
Can you tell us anything about the new engine?
“Our job is to provide a machine that is capable of
winning. It doesn't matter what valves it uses, whether pneumatic
or standard. We try to produce machines that win races, and
continue to work on both options to meet this goal.”
Who do you think is in a stronger position to fight
for the championship: Ducati or Yamaha?
“Both are very strong, they have bikes that perform
very well, and both have very good riders in their teams.”
The fuel tank is currently limited to 21 liters.
Does Honda have problems adapting these dimensions to the
consumption of a powerful enough engine?
“You need to find a compromise between fuel consumption
and power, because if you try to get as much power as possible,
you're out of fuel before the race is through. It's important
to find a balance that gives you the chance to use all that
fuel without risking a too-low consumption rate, because if
you don't, you can tell the difference in power.”
This is a world where many mature, seasoned people
with years of experience work completely focused on the directives
set by boys who are hardly twenty years old. Have you ever
stopped to think about it?
“Well, what I think is that, if I could, I'd race with
Dani and Nicky, but that isn't possible, so I dedicate all
my dreams, effort and work towards the goal of helping our
riders win. Their age doesn't matter, but their work and talent
is what has put them where they are, and my path has led me
to helping them out from where I am now.”
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